Luke 2:1-20Pastor Sarah Stadler

2015 has been…I’m not even sure what to say…it’s been a year. As I think back on what has happened in each of our lives, in the life of the world, in the life of the planet, I am overwhelmed.

 The Jews of this period of history had much to fear, and while the Jews were waiting for the messiah to come, while they were living in the midst of tension and fear, a young woman from the backwater town of Nazareth quietly gave birth to her first-born son, Jesus. 

2,000 years ago, the year Emperor Augustus decreed that all people living within the bounds of the Roman Empire needed to be counted, the year Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to partake in the census, that year was a…year. This time in history is known as the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome, an ironically named 200-year period of time where there was supposedly peace in the Roman Empire. But there was not peace. The empire was occupied by soldiers; non-citizens, and that included nearly all Jews, had few rights. In the middle of the Pax Romana, the empire and the Jews went to war in what is aptly named the Roman-Jewish war, a short but devastating conflict that ended with the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The Jews of this period of history had much to fear, and while the Jews were waiting for the messiah to come, while they were living in the midst of tension and fear, a young woman from the backwater town of Nazareth quietly gave birth to her first-born son, Jesus. An angel appeared to shepherds in a field, and a host of angels sang praise to God. They proclaimed to the shepherds good news of great joy for all people: a savior, named Jesus, is born! The messiah for whom they had waited was born—good news indeed, but first, the angel said: do not be afraid.

The news of a savior born—just think about that for a moment—was too overwhelming. What those who held Jesus in their arms knew was that they were afraid.

What strikes me this year about the Christmas story is that the shepherds and—indeed—Mary and Joseph themselves had no idea how the birth of an infant savior would change the world or even change their own lives. They had no idea because Jesus had to grow up, had to learn to walk and speak, had to play with his siblings and friends, had to learn the Torah and become proficient in the everyday skills of 1st century Mediterranean life. It was not immediately obvious to the people who held Jesus in their arms how this child’s life would shape the world. The news of a savior born—just think about that for a moment—was too overwhelming. What those who held Jesus in their arms knew was that they were afraid. They were afraid, and when the angel came to the shepherds and when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her that she would conceive and bear Jesus, these angels first proclaimed before anything else: do not be afraid.

This year, on our planet, we have endured many natural disasters: fires, earthquakes, floods, tornados, hurricanes, natural disasters that have claimed human lives and devastated the earth. Plant and animal diversity is shrinking as species go extinct, species on whom we rely as a human species for survival for all parts of the ecosystem are important, are mutually interdependent.

But do not be afraid.

In our world, millions of refugees have and are fleeing Syria. Europe is overwhelmed with people seeking homes. Religious extremism, fundamentalism are driving violence and fear-mongering in many nations. People are exploited as humanity seeks after profit instead of love.

But do not be afraid.

In our nation, we have seen violence erupt in schools, churches, streets, and homes. We are on edge, suspicious of our neighbors, unwilling to trust, blaming others. Our lives are saturated with messages of hate and blame, hostility and competition, instead of seeking after the common good, working to bring about justice, and loving one another above all other goals.

But do not be afraid.

In our own personal lives, we probably each live with anxieties: illness among our family and friends, the uncertainty of the future, wondering how we will pay rent this month, anxieties for our children and grandchildren, basic safety. Simply watching the news can fill us with dread.

But do not be afraid.

The angel announced to the shepherds good news of great joy, the birth of our savior Jesus, but the angel’s good news began with: do not be afraid. 

What difference does it make that a baby was born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago? The message of Jesus’ birth might strike us as empty when we consider all that is going on in our world, all the fears that crowd together in our hearts and minds and compel us to act in ways that don’t reflect our deepest values. The angel announced to the shepherds good news of great joy, the birth of our savior Jesus, but the angel’s good news began with: do not be afraid. Where we are right now, today, we might be afraid. But what we celebrate on Christmas is God’s Love born into our world. Jesus is Love incarnate, and perfect Love casts out fear.

When we share space with people who love us with the Love of God—a love that we cannot control but that simply flows through us when we are open to it, our fears begin to dissipate. Our hearts rest. We learn, perhaps with surprise, that there is nothing we need to do or be in order to be loved.

Think for a moment of a person in your life—perhaps someone sitting next to you, perhaps someone whose memory has not faded even though they are no longer alive. Think for a moment of a person who loved you, who loves you still, a person through whom God shares God’s own love with you, a love that is patient and kind. When we share space with people who love us with the Love of God—a love that we cannot control but that simply flows through us when we are open to it, our fears begin to dissipate. Our hearts rest. We learn, perhaps with surprise, that there is nothing we need to do or be in order to be loved. This Love grounds us. And when we are grounded in this Love, God’s Love, we realize that we do not have to be afraid.

All that is born of fear is that which we, ironically, fear. All that is born of fear is violence, greed, injustice, a clinging onto our own power instead of a letting go. It is our fear which creates the things we do not want in our lives, in our world, on our planet. But when we trust the love of God, when we rest in the Love that was born for us in Jesus, our fears—and all that is born of fear—end. Perfect Love casts out fear.

So, what difference does it make that a baby named Jesus was born 2,000 year ago? He is savior of the world, yes, and Love incarnate, Love for us, Love for all people, Love for all creation. Perfect love casts out fear, and you are loved. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Amen!